Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Greetings from Middle America. I have just started exploring the options of an AP system. I am really enjoying all the info. I have several questions:

1. I have access to a couple of the vinyl pools with the inflatable ring around the top. Would these be viable options for a fish tank?

2. I like the idea of NFT system but will it work with AP because of no median (i.e. gravel) to act as a biofilter for the fish wastes.

3. Has anyone worked with freshwater prawns?

4. Can you combine more than one species of fish in the same tank?

5. How do you maintain nutrient levels for the plants after harvesting the fish?

These are just a few questions of a newbie looking to get started. Sure to have lots more . Thank you for any info that you might offer.

Hi DW, welcome to our home

1. They work okay for a while, but they probably won't last more than a couple of years.

2. You can run the water through a gravel bed or a biofilter first, before the NFT.

3. A few people, can't remember who at this point.

4. Depends on the species of fish

5. Add more fish

Welcome DW, Jaymie has it all there for you

5) It's not imperative to harvest all the fish at once (unless you have a large freezer)
Some of us use a smaller tank as well to grow fingerlings in while we harvest the larger over a period of time and thus do not have the "thousands of nutrients one day" - "gone the next". (smaller tank could be a sump tank)

It is also dependent on the type of fish - whether they are carnivores (like our barra) or if they will co-exists with smaller versions of their own species

one problem you may have with using prawns and the cheap pools is if they are like crays pinching through them. just a heads up.

DW

If you have cats in the area the inflatables won't last longer than a few weeks. They jump on top to have a drink or are just curious, the top moves slightly and out come the claws to hang on. You are then left wondering why your pool has deflated slowly and dumped lots of its water.

For real, it happened to us .

Damn cats.. I hate cats they annoy everything and destroy wildlife. They should be forced to walk on a leash or be indoors just like my dogs.

Inconsiderate people allowing their cats to destroy your property.

Slicer, I take it you don't like cats.

W C Fields once said when he was asked if he liked children "I love kids, but they have to be properly cleaned and cooked"!!!
(From memory...words not accurate but you get the idea)

Cats are like that to me.

Was my daughters and the neighbours cat, and the pool was for her benefit (I regard swimming pools as a waste of space and water - unless of course the're used for fish ).

I love cats! Fried, stewed, or on the barbie, there is nothing quite like them. I think folks who don't like cats have just never had them properly prepared! Onions and mushrooms and good meat.....mmm.

Just joking. We have two who spend an hour or so on my lap daily. Or on the dog's lap!

Re deflation: one could take preemptive action and use the vinyl pool as a liner in a plywood ring or in a pit...

Com'on folks lets be reasonable.... cats have there place in the scheme of things....

I mean to say if we didn't have cats, what would our dogs have to chase

POSSUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and for our US counterparts, we mean cute cuddly destructive vicious creatures that eat roses and fruit... Not those weird ugly Opossums you have that for some reason many ppl call 'possums'.

hmmm don't know where exactly that came from... Sorry

But they need to eat a lot of vegans before they feel full tho.

[s]morons[/s] mormons................vegans, door to door sales ppl........other religious folk............lol im sure i dont need to go on lol

lol sorry if you were referring to my "previous" post axl looks like it was deleted.....should make sense if they read mine again b4 yours lol